Engine starter control system



Nov 10, 1953 w. v. HARRISON 2,659,018

ENGINE STARTER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov= 18. 195o Patented Nov. 10, `195.3

ENGINE STARTER CONTROL SYSTEM William V. Harrison, Muncie, Ind., assgnor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 18, 1950, Serial No. 196,406

(C1. ZBO-38) 1 Claim. l.

The present invention relates to automotive vehicles and more particularly to `a system for controlling the starting of an automotive vehicle engine.

The broad object of the present invention is to provide means for enabling the starting of an automotive vehicle engine irrespective of whether or not the transmission of the vehicle is conditioned for neutral.

A more specic object of the present invenn tion is to provide a circuit .for actuating the starter motor of the vehicle engine when the vehicle brake is applied even though the transmission is not conditioned for neutral.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a circuit for actuating the starter motor of the vehicle engine which includes a -switch controlled by the vehicle brake and which is closed only when the brake is applied.

Another object of the present inventionyis to provide a circuit for actuating the starter motor of a. vehicle engine which includes a shifter lever controlled switch that is closed when the shifter lever occupies its neutral position, and a brake controlled switch, connected in parallel with the shifter lever controlled switch, and which `is closed when the vehicle brake is applied, whereby the operator of the `automotive vehicle may start the engine thereof whenever the brake is applied even though the transmission is not conditioned for neutral.

The lpresent invention is particularly suitable for use in automotive vehicles equipped with a hydrodynamic coupling device such as a fluid coupling or a fluid torque converter between the engine lcrankshaft and the vehicle transmission. It has been the practice to provide a switch in the vehicle engine starter circuit that is closed only when the transmission is conditioned for neutral and in 4such case, it is essential that the shift lever be in its neutral position in order to start the vehicle engine. By the present invention it is no longer necessary to place the shifter lever in its neutral position as the starter of the vehicle may be actuated whenever the vehicle brake is applied.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawing of the invention.

With reference to the drawing, an automotive vehicle engine of the internal combustion type is represented generally by reference numeral I. The engine I has a `crank shaft Ia adapted to drive a hydrodynamic coupling device A which may be either a iiuid coupling or a hydraulic torque converter. The hydrodynamic coupling device A drives an output shaft Ib which is connected with a 'conventional transmission B and the transmission B is connected to drive the vehicle driving wheels, represented schematically by reference character C, through the intermediary of a transmission output shaft Ic. The engine I is equipped with a starter motor 2 having a pair of terminals which are connected respectively with a grounded lead 3 and with a lead d. The lead 4 is connected to one contact 5 of a. starter switch `Ii which may be closed by an actuating button 'l that is located in any convenient location in the vehicle, preferably either in the floorboard or in the dashboard.

The other contact 5 of the starter switch `Ii is connected to a lead 8, that is also Iconnected to one of the contacts 9 of a brake controlled switch lo. The other contact 9 is connected to one terminal of the vehicle battery II by means of a lead I2 and the other terminal of the battery II in grounded through a lead I3. A lead I4 connects the lead 8 with one `contact I5 of a selector lever controlled switch I6. The other contact I5 is connected with the lead I2 by means of a lead I1. As is apparent from the drawing, the brake controlled switch I0 and the selector lever controlled switch I6 are connected in parallel and when either switch is closed the leads 8 and I2 are electrically connected. A lead I8 is lalso connected with the lead I2 and provides a circuit from the battery I i through an ignition switch I9 f to the usual ignition lcircuit.

The selector lever fcontrol switch I6 includes a bridging arm 20 which is movable into engagement with both of the contacts I5. The bridging `arm 20 has an operating lever 2| connected in vany convenient manner so as to be moved to a position whereby the switch I6 is closed whenever the selector lever (not shown) is moved to its neutral position. When the selector leveris moved to a position corresponding to any gear ratio between the engine crankshaft and the vehicle wheels, such as high, low or reverse, the bridging arm 20 occupies the position as shown and in this position the switch I6 is open.

The present invention is herein disclosed in connection with an automotive vehicle equipped with fluid pressure operated brakes which are represented by the single brake shown schematically and represented generally lby reference numeral 22. The brake 22 comprises a drum 23 and a pair of shoes 24 faced with friction ma- 3 terial 25 for engaging the drum 23 and pivotally mounted as at 26. The two brake shoes 24 are respectively connected with a `piston 21 and a cylinder 28. When fluid under 'pressure is admitted to the cylinder 28 the piston 21 is moved to the right and the cylinder 28 is moved to the left to cause the friction material 25 on each of the shoes 24 to engage the drum 23 and thereby brake the vehicle wheels (not shown) A brake operating pedal 29, which extends through the iioorboard (not shown) of the ve-v hicle, is secured to a rotatable Ashaft 3D. AAlso secured to the rotatable shaft 30 is a lever 3| which is pivotally connected at ,32 to :a piston rod 33 having a piston 34 secured to its other end. The piston 34 is reciprocahle within a cylinder 35 and when the brake pedal 29 is depressed (moved clockwise with the shaft 33) the piston 34 is moved to the right, thereby .com-- pressing the fluid on the right side of the piston 34 and contained in the .cylinder 35. The cylinder .35 is connected .by means of a iluid conduit 3B and .a series of branch .conduits .3l with the cylinders 21B 'in each of the lbrakes 22. When the uid in the .cylinder 3.5 is `compressed .due tO depression .of .the `brake pedal the pressure .of the fluid is increased in the cylinder 23 `and the .brakes .22 `are thereby applied.

The `conduit 35 communicates with a .conduit 3B leading .to .a .cylinder 3,9. A piston 40 is reciprocable within the .cylinder 39 4and has a pis-.- ton rod 4.1 .connected .thereto which is valso con nected to .an arm 42 of the brake .controlled switch L0. The .piston rod .4i Amay be .insulated from .the arm 42 .as indicated vat .spring ,44, of the .compression type, .is seated behind the piston 40, abutting one .end of the c inder 33, .and Icontinuously .urges the piston to the `.position asshownsuch .that `the arm 42 don .not .bridge the contacts il. When the brake pedal 2,9 is .depressed to thereby cause compression of .the fiuidin the cylinder huid under flows .through .the ,conduits 36 and .3,8 into the cylinder ,33 and moves the Vpiston 4t* to a posi.-

.tion whereby v.the arm 42 bridges the `contacts 9 to .thereby 4close the brake controlled ,switch I 0,.

.In the operation .of .the present ,syste-rn, if the shifter lever has `been moved .to ner-.trai position such .that the `arm 12D bridges .the contacts l5, .a .circuit .is completed 4for energizing .the .engine .starter motor yS. when the operator of the vehicle depresses` .the b utton 'I `to close the kswitch ii. This Circuit extends ,from `ground .over the Vlead 13, .through the battery II, over the leads 'l2 and 11, through the closed selector lever actuated ,switch .151, over the leads 'I4 Vand through .the losed ,starterswitch over the lead 4, through .the startermotor 2 and over thelead 3 -tozground lf :the transmission is Aconditioned for a gear ratio, such as high, low or reverse, under which condition the switch .I6 is open, depression of .the starter button 1 is ineffective to complete an lenergizing circuit to the starter motor 2 un.-

`1ess the brake ,pedal 29 is depressed to supply uid under pressure to the brake operating cylinders 28 and to the brake controlled switch operating cylinder 39. When fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 39, the piston 40 is moved against the urging of spring 44 to cause the arm 42 to bridge the contacts 9 and thereby close the switch IU. When the switch Il! is closed, even though the switch I6 is open, depression `of the starter button 1 closes the switch 6 to complete an energizing circuit for the starter motor 2. This circuit extends from ground over the lead i3, through the battery Il. over the lead l2, through the closed switch Il), over the lead 8, through the closed starter switch 5, over the lead 4, through the starter motor 2 anderer thelead 3 to ground.

From the foregoing description of the present invention it is apparent that a simple and efficient control system has been provided for actuating the starter motor of an automotive vehicle Whenever either the Selector lever is in 4its neutral position or the vehicle brakes are applied- It is contemplated that numerous changes and modncations may .be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or SCOPE thereof.

I claim:

In a system for controlling the `starting o f an automotive vehicle engine, the ,combination of a starter vmotor `for ,starting the engine, ,a vehicle transmission having' a shifter lever and disposed between the A.engine Aand driving means rfor said vehicle, a hydrodynamic `coupling device between the engine and `the vehicle transmission, a circuit for actuating Asaid Astarter motor, a first switch in said `circuit 4controlled. by the vehicle transmission shifter lever Amovable to a closed position when the ysliifter lever nis moved `to its neutral `position Vand movable to an o pen position when theshifter lever is moved Ato any posi tion other Vthan its said Aneutral position, a `brake for the vehicle, a Asecond Vswitch in said ,circuit and connected in parallel with ,said `first switch, .said second switch .being movable to Va closed position .upon applation .of vsaid vehicle brake and `.movable to Lan open position upon release of ,said vehicle brake, .anda manually controlled switch for ,completing said circuit V to actuate said .starter .motor .to start .the vehicle engine When either of said first-named switches `occupies its ,closedposition WILLIAM V. HARRISON.

"References Cited in the le of `this patent ,UNITED .STATES A.F'AILEINTS Number `,Name Date 11,137,519 Newburger A121127, 1915 1,293,569 Stein Feb. 4, i919 .1;386,844 :Cowen Aug. 9, )192,1 f1,'7371,i866 fstevenson etal. ,July-29, 1930 1,936,619 {Christian Nov. 28, 19,33 `1,979,836 Kryzer jNov. 6, 1,934 

